Howard Park Flint Rock Shiraz 2022

Up to 15% whole bunch has been used in select parcels, with a total of 15 months in mostly old French oak. What colour!  There’s a freshness and open-fruited nose here, with purple and black berries inked with aniseed ring spice, a little crushed graphite and a fresh violet liquorice strap perfume.  It’s rather tight to start, but give it a swirl or a decant, and you’ll be rewarded.  The palate provides a full song and dance; fine tannins offer nimble footwork, and acidity rises to the back of the house. This is a perfumed, pretty Shiraz that could almost sway into Syrah territory thanks to cool-fruited concentration, freshness, spice and a lightness of oak.  A discretely convincing wine whose power lies in the lingering memory on the palate. A wine to buy by the case.